The Rev. Patrick O'Connor Braden, CSB

The Rev. Patrick O’Connor Braden, CSB, fourth president of the University of St. Thomas, passed away on June 16. A U.S. Navy veteran with a doctorate in engineering from the University of Texas, Fr. Braden was known for his love of physics and all things mechanical. Until recently, he could often be seen riding his bicycle or scooter around campus.

Fr. Braden’s life was deeply tied to the University of St. Thomas, and to his vocation as a Catholic priest.

“As a priest I feel I can best fulfill my desire for a religious life as well as teach science,” he said in a past interview.

Fr. Braden was a 1941 graduate of St. Thomas High School in Houston. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rice University in 1944. The day after graduation, he was drafted into WWII. In the mid-1940s he worked briefly in aviation electronics in the U.S. Navy, before beginning theological studies at St. Basil’s College in Toronto, Canada.

On June 14, 1952, the Feast of St. Basil, Fr. Braden was ordained a priest in the Congregation of St. Basil, the order that founded the University of St. Thomas.

He received a Master of Science degree in 1954 and then a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was also recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate in 1980.

Fr. Braden was president of UST between 1967 and 1979, and under his leadership, enrollment doubled. Since his years as president, he served in many capacities at UST, including chair of the Board of Directors.

For a year after his presidency, he went to Niger, West Africa, helping to bring clean water to people there. Then he was transferred to St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, to be president from 1980-1986. After teaching again at UST, he was assigned to St. Lucia, West Indies, between 1991-1995 where he was the religious superior of the Basilian Fathers and taught at the local university.

He returned in 1995 as an adjunct professor of physics and math at the University of St. Thomas, where he remained until his death.

In addition to teaching, Fr. Braden’s many interests included astronomy and working with his hands on automobiles and boats during his spare time. In the wood shop of Donoghue Hall, Fr. Braden had a workshop where he would fix small appliances, build bookshelves or store tools for tinkering with cars.

In a Texas Catholic Herald article in 1979, Fr. Braden said, “[I] find it relaxing to think about where a fuel line should go instead of a report to the tenure committee.” He had just finished rebuilding a Mercedes-Benz.

In 1961 and 1963, Fr. Braden was published in the American Journal of Physics. He was also a member of Tau Beta Pi in Mechanical Engineering, and was inducted into the St. Thomas High School Hall of Honor in 2008, 67 years after graduating.

Fr. Braden, a native Houstonian, was born February 1, 1924, is the son of the late Dr. Albert H. and Kathleen O’Connor Braden. He is survived by his brother Dr. David Braden. He is preceded in death by his siblings Albert Braden Jr., Joseph C. Braden, Kathleen Braden Eichelberger.

Visitation will be Monday, June 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Basil, 3802 Yoakum. The Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, June 21 at 10 a.m. in the Jerabeck Activity & Athletic Center, on the campus of the University of St. Thomas, 4000 Mt. Vernon St.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the scholarship fund Fr. Braden and his family setup in memory of his parents: The Albert and Kathleen Braden Endowed Scholarship at the University of St. Thomas, 3800 Montrose, Houston TX 77006, or visit www.stthom.edu/give.